Situated in Southwestern China, Yunnan has literally been known as “South to the Color Clouds”, for its warm winter and cool summer. Because of its special location, it enjoys huge differences in elevation, in diversity of geography and ecology as well as the culture of different ethnic groups amongst its population of 43 million, of which 14 million are ethnic minorities. You can experience the ethnic people’s life and culture at Dali, Lijiang.
Kunming Changshui International Airport (Google Map)
Lijiang Airport (Google Map)
Day 1 Arrive at Kunming (-/-/-)
Transfer via: TBA flight – arrange by you
Meet you at the Kunming Changshui Airport (KMG) and transfer you to your downtown hotel for check-in. The left time is at your leisure.
Day 2 Kunming (B/L/-)
This morning, you will go to West Hill for a visit. On the West Hill, there is a special gate called Dragon Gate where can get a commanding view of the famous Dianchi Lake. and then explore Kunming Bird & Flower Market.
West Hill is very beautiful with lush vegetation, blooming flowers, green grass and tranquil surroundings. West Hill has enjoyed great fame for its beautiful and unique natural scenery since ancient time and was renowned as “the most beautiful place in Yunnan”.
Dragon Gate，also called Datiange, which is a temple eyrie on the side of a sheer cliff Arhat Peak. It’s an ideal place to get some idea of how magnificent the sights are. Standing at the Dragon Gate, you can enjoy the beauty of the vast Dianchi Lake. It was said, “Once on the Dragon Gate, your fortune will be made.”
Bird & Flower Market One of the more interesting attractions within the central downtown area of Kunming, and a great place to shop for a lot of different things like clothes, name chops, dice, outdoor equipment, camping and hunting gear, birds, flowers, live baby turtles, pirated movies, music, games or dried lizards on sticks. It’s open roughly from 9am-6pm, but all of the individual shopkeepers keep whatever hours they like.
Day 3 Kunming (B/L/-)
This morning, drive you to the famous scenic place Stone Forest. It will take about two hours from Kunming to Stone Forest.
Stone Forest located in Shilin Yi Nationality Autonomous County. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers (96,000 acres) and includes both large and small stone forests, as well as many other scenic spots. The fantastic stone pinnacles rising abruptly from the ground resemble a huge, dense forest. The stone forest with its mysterious scenery and natural beauty is described as “the most fantastic scenery under heaven” by the people in and out of China.
After finishing Stone Forest trip, transfer you back to Kunming. When come back to Kunming, you will have another tour to Bamboo Temple.
Bamboo Temple is located in Yu’anshan Mountain which is in 10km northwest of Kunming. It is a much-restored Tang Dynasty temple known for its Arhat statues, is arguably the most famous of Kunming’s temples. After finishing this trip, transfer you back to your hotel.
Day 4 Kunming to Dali (B/L/-)
Transfer via: AM flight arranged by us
This morning, we will take an early morning plane to Dali and needs about 40 minutes. After arrive Dali, transfer to Dali hotel for check-in, and then have an Erhai Lake cruise and visit the Three Pagodas and explore Dali Ancient Town.
Erhai Lake , Chinese meaning is ‘ear-shaped sea’, is situated at 1,972 m above sea level. In size, the North-South length of the lake is 40 km and the East-West width is roughly 7-8 km. Its area is 250 km², making it the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake. When you arrive at there, you can have an Erhai Lake cruise to explore the beautiful scenery.
Three Pagodas are one kilometer away from north of Dali. The styles of the three pagodas are similar. The main pagoda is “Qianxun Pagoda”. It is a square pagoda and it is 69.13 meters high. Its molding and style were imitated the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian and the Song Yue Monastery Pagoda in Henan Province.
Dali Ancient Town is a magical fascinating place with an international flair. It attracts lots of tourists from all over the world annual. Far-reaching Dali history, it’s known as “literature of the state” good reputation. Due to its long history, there are lots of cultural relics.
Day 5 Dali to Lijiang (B/L/-)
This morning, we will drive to Xizhou Village to visit the Bai people’s dwellings. Then we go ahead to Lijiang. After arrive Lijiang, we will go to visit Black Dragon Pool Pack and Lijiang Ancient Town.
Xizhou Bai Minority Village is located 18 kilometres north of Dali. The green mountains, winding creeks and fertile land make for a lyrical and carefree life. The old houses and streets are well preserved. Visitors may still find traces of past glory.
Black Dragon Pool Park located at the foot of Elephant hill north of Lijiang city. Black Dragon Pool is the main headwater of the Yushui River which goes through the Old Town of Lijiang. It is just like the bright eyes of the town, shining with the wisdom. For many locals, it’s a place to relax, to enjoy the view and the sun, to play games, to practice the famous Naxi orchestra.
Lijiang Ancient Town was built in the Southern Song Dynasty, dated back to more than eight hundred years ago. It covers an area of 3.8 aquare kilometers. It’s a place of combination of Chinese culture and Western culture, ancient culture and modern culture. When in Lijiang ancient town, you will not only experience the ancient Naxi Culture, but also can enjoy in the modern bar at you leisure.
Day 6 Lijiang (B/L/-)
Today’s highlights are Baisha Mural Paintings, Yufeng Temple,and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
After breakfast, will drive you to Baisha Village to visit the local Naxi family and Basha Mural Painting. You can experience the local people’s life and their traditional culture. And then, pay a visit to Yufeng Temple. In the evening, enjoy Music show of Dongba People at the ancient town.
Baisha Mural Paintings is located in Baisha Township; 8km north of the seat of the Lijiang Naxi Nationality Autonomous County, there are altogether 53 groups of mural paintings located in the hall.
Yufeng Temple:It is known in English as Jade Peak Temple. The temple shows distinctive architectural style of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba Religion as a result of the cultural fusion between different minoritiesin the Qing Dynasty.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. It stretches a length of 35 kilometers and a width of 20 kilometers. Looking from Lijiang Ancient Town in the south, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon laying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
And you can enjoy the Naxi Ancient Music and Dance Performance at Dongba Palace in the evening.
Day 7 Departure Lijiang (B/-/-)
Transfer via: TBA flight – arrange by you.
This morning is free for you to explore around Lijiang, and then transfer you to Lijiang airport for catching your flight.
